The Red Storm battled back from an 18-point first half deficit and to trail by just four points with 8:29 remaining, but No. 20 Wisconsin used a late 8-0 run to pull away for the victory, 86-75, in the 2013 season-opener for both teams at the brand-new Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

D’Angelo Harrison scored a game-high 27 points, while JaKarr Sampson finished with 21 points and seven boards to lead St. John’s. The Red Storm shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) from the floor, finished even on the boards and dominated play down low with a 44-24 scoring advantage in the paint.

But the team also committed 12 turnovers, 10 in the first half, and made a paltry 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from beyond the arc. Rysheed Jordan played 24 minutes in his collegiate-debut and finished with six points, three rebounds and three assists.

“We got off to a poor start at both ends of the court,” said head coach Steve Lavin. “Clearly we need to improve as a team in order to execute more effectively at both ends of the court.”

Josh Gasser had 19 points and eight rebounds to lead five players in double-figures for Wisconsin. The Badgers drained 11-of-23 (47.8 percent) 3-pointers on the night to pace the offensive attack, and also shot at an 83.3 percent clip (25-of-30) from the charity stripe.

A pair of Sampson dunks bookended a 12-5 rally that pulled St. John’s to within four points, 58-54, at the 8:29 mark. The Badgers had an answer, though, as consecutive 3-pointers pushed the Wisconsin lead back to 10 with 7:46 to go. A Harrison 3-pointer cut the lead to seven with 6:04 remaining, but the Red Storm would get no closer.

“This challenge presented an opportunity for our team to grow,” said Lavin. “We are disappointed with the loss, but now have a checklist of deficiencies that we will take home with us as we head into a week of practice in preparation for our next game.”

St. John’s returns to action on Nov. 15, hosting Wagner at Carnesecca Arena for a 6 p.m. game that will air on FOX Sports 2.